Serum Sex Hormone–Binding Globulin and Cortisol Concentrations are Associated With Overreaching During Strenuous Military Training

Serum Sex Hormone–Binding Globulin and Cortisol Concentrations are Associated With Overreaching During Strenuous Military Training

from The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research - Current Issue by Tanskanen, Minna M; Kyröläinen, Heikki; Uusitalo, Arja L; Huovinen, Jukka; Nissilä, Juuso; Kinnunen, Hannu; Atalay, Mustafa; Häkkinen, Keijo

Tanskanen, MM, Kyröläinen, H, Uusitalo, AL, Huovinen, J, Nissilä, J, Kinnunen, H, Atalay, M, and Häkkinen, K. Serum sex hormone-binding globulin and cortisol concentrations are associated with overreaching during strenuous military training. J Strength Cond Res 25(3): 787-797, 2011-

The purpose was (a) to study the effect of an 8-week Finnish military basic training period (BT) on physical fitness, body composition, mood state, and serum biochemical parameters among new conscripts; (b) to determine the incidence of overreaching (OR); and (c) to evaluate whether initial levels or training responses differ between OR and noOR subjects. Fifty-seven males (19.7 ± 0.3 years) were evaluated before and during BT. Overreaching subjects had to fulfill 3 of 5 criteria: decreased aerobic physical fitness (V̇O2max), increased rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in 45-minute submaximal test at 70% of V̇O2max or sick absence from these tests, increased somatic or emotional symptoms of OR, and high incidence of sick absence from daily service. 

V̇O2max improved during the first 4 weeks of BT. During the second half of BT, a stagnation of increase in V̇O2max was observed, basal serum sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) increased, and insulin-like growth factor-1 and cortisol decreased. Furthermore, submaximal exercise-induced increases in cortisol, maximum heart rate, and postexercise increase in blood lactate were blunted.

 Of 57 subjects, 33% were classified as OR. They had higher basal SHBG before and after 4 and 7 weeks of training and higher basal serum cortisol at the end of BT than noOR subjects. In addition, in contrast to noOR, OR subjects exhibited no increase in basal testosterone/cortisol ratio but a decrease in maximal La/RPE ratio during BT. As one-third of the conscripts were overreached, training after BT should involve recovery training to prevent overtraining syndrome from developing. The results confirm that serum SHBG, cortisol, and testosterone/cortisol and maximal La/RPE ratios could be useful tools to indicate whether training is too strenuous.

 

Topic:	Short Term Effects of Antioxidants and Zinc Supplements on Oxidative Stress
Keywords:	OXIDATIVE STRESS, MACULAR DEGENERATION - Antioxidants, Zinc
Reference:	"The Short-term Effects of Antioxidant and Zinc Supplements on Oxidative Stress Biomarker Levels in Plasma: A Pilot Investigation," Brantley MA Jr, Osborn MP, et al, Am J Ophthalmol, 2012 Feb 28; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA).
Summary:	In a prospective, interventional case series study involving 19 subjects, 12 of whom had intermediate or advanced age-related macular degeneration AND 7 who served as controls, dietary supplementation with 500 mg vitamin C, 400 IU vitamin E, 15 mg beta-carotene, 80 mg zinc oxide, and 2 mg cupric oxide, while adhering to a controlled diet, for a period of 7 days was found to be associated with significantly lower mean plasma levels of cystine (CySS).